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Veteran Turkish journalist, television presenter and news anchor Reha Muhtar died at the age of 66 at a hospital in Bodrum, Mugla, where he had been receiving treatment for heart failure.
Muhtar, one of the best-known names in Turkish television journalism, built up a long career across newspapers and major broadcasters, becoming widely recognized for his work as a news presenter, commentator and television program host.
Reha Muhtar was born into a family with roots in Kirkuk, with an Iraqi Turkmen father who worked as an academic in the Arabic Language and Literature Department at Ankara University's Faculty of Language, History and Geography.
Because of his father's work, Muhtar spent winters in Ankara and summers in Istanbul. He completed his primary, middle and high school education at the TED Ankara College before studying journalism at Ankara University's School of Press and Broadcasting under the Faculty of Political Sciences.
Muhtar began his journalism career in 1980. A year later, he joined Milliyet newspaper's Ankara bureau, where he worked as a reporter covering foreign policy and politics.
He later moved to TRT, Türkiye's public broadcaster, and became known as the channel's correspondent in Athens, Greece. During his years in Athens, he also became the Greek bridge champion.
In 1991, he started presenting "Ates Hatti," a Turkish program modeled on CNN International's "Crossfire." The show marked one of the key stages in his rise as a television figure.
After leaving TRT in 1993, Muhtar moved to Kanal D. He later returned to TRT before joining Star TV and then going back to Kanal D.
In 1996, he moved to Show TV, where he took on roles as main news anchor and editor-in-chief of news. His years at Show TV became one of the most visible periods of his broadcasting career.
Muhtar also wrote for Aksam newspaper starting from 2000 and later returned to Star TV. He continued writing for the group's Star newspaper until leaving the Star Media Group in 2003.
In 2004, Muhtar joined ATV as a jury member on "Akademi Türkiye" and began writing for the Sabah newspaper. After leaving the Ciner Media Group in 2006, he presented "PissTi" with Metin Uca on Show TV.
He later wrote for Vatan newspaper, hosted "Capraz Ates" on FOX in 2007, and returned to Show TV several times for entertainment programs.
In 2009, he hosted "Cok Farkli" on CNN Turk and later appeared on a Turkish TV channel with Erman Toroglu and Ahmet Cakar in the program "Son Kale."
Muhtar last stint was at Vatan newspaper in November 2016, bringing down the curtain on one of the longest and most varied media careers in Turkish television and print journalism.
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